Using a carbide candle.

Anyone know ball park figures on the right proportion and amount of water and calcium carbide to use for smoking one set of sights with a carbide candle?? TIA.

I found the formula right here: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/504999/birchwood-casey-sight-black-3-1-2-oz-aerosol



http://forums.abandonedmines.net/viewtopic.php?t=892 gives a really good overview of using a carbide lamp. It hardly takes any at all to do one set of sights. It hardly takes any at all to run one of those lamps for hours. That's why I put the link for the sight black spray.

"Smudge Pots" are lower maintenance: http://compare.ebay.com/like/160926778462?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

hope that helps.

Thanks for the very interesting link. If I beat my nemisis/shooting buddy in the next match I'll use the carbide flame to light my victory cigar. (can't do that with aerosol spray)

you can, but it's much more dangerous

In the distant past, when I started shooting, a miner's carbide lamp was part of most shooters equipment. The procedure to use it was fairly simple: Unscrew the cap, fill it with carbide chips, and replace the cap. To use it, open the cap, spit on the carbide, close the cap, light the lamp, and smoke your sights. Then blow out the lamp and repeat this procedure until you need to replace the carbide.

I have to admit, though, that miners' lamps were much easier to find in West Virginia at that time.

Sandy Latimer

What I use is called a carbide candle, but it was made for shooters and came out of a company called The Gun House in Natick, MA.

That's cool.

Back to your original post--you don't "proportion" the water. The carbide will react violently if you mix any more than just a drop or 2 of water at a time.

I have used those small smokers in the past. I don't think they are made anymore.
Best one I have ever used is the Ray-Vin
http://www.champchoice.com/prod-Ray_Vin___Carbide_Supersmoker-4697.aspx
Adopted it from my rifle gear.

When using the Gun Smoke product, you must be quick to get the top back on after wetting the rock. Don't cross thread the top, either, or you will have a flame shooting out of the gap that will give you a nice 2nd degree burn.